The M Foundation supports and inspires young athletes to perform their best - both on and off the field. At the core of the foundation's efforts is the The M Awards, a national scholarship program that identifies and recognizes high school athletes who are exemplary role models in their communities.
In it's first year, The M Foundation has recognized over 40 high school student-athletes throughout the country with a prestigious M Award. M Awards include weekly Bronze Award winners, monthly Silver Award winners and an annual "Student-Athlete of the Year" Gold Award winner. Elite athlete role models including Serena Williams, David Wright, Mia Hamm, and many others are actively involved in selecting M Awards recipients throughout the year.
The M Foundation is also dedicated to researching key health issues impacting young athletes today, as well as offering education and awareness campaigns as a means to address and minimize such risks.
The goal of The M Foundation is to enhance healthy athletic performance and to advance the common good through athletic achievement. The Foundation exists to support "Athletes on a Mission", those individuals who reflect this dual objective.
The M Foundation is a 501(c)3 fund administered by Renaissance Charitable Trust, based in Indianapolis. The relationship with Renaissance has enabled The M Foundation to be entirely focused on achieving its goals, with minimal administrative overhead and best-of-class, third-party oversight relating to non-profit management and compliance matters.
The M Foundation is directed by an Executive Board including Cathy Cercena (Executive Director) and Jim Van Eerden (Development Director). The M Foundation's Executive Board is supplemented by an active Advisory Board, including its "Athlete Ambassadors": Serena Williams, David Wright, Georges St-Pierre, Amanda Beard, Gretchen Bleiler, Mia Hamm, Sergio Garcia, Ryan Sheckler, Sarah Haskins, Hunter Kemper, Alonzo Mourning, Billie Jean King and Jessica Mendoza.
The M Foundation aims at two central goals: to EDUCATE and to INSPIRE. It educates through research and awareness initiatives, funding and directing innovative research studies with athletes and partners concerned with health-performance issues. It inspires through retail activation programs as well as its signature recognition program.